specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Vonage Video API
providerId: vonage-video
created: '2026-06-20'
modified: '2026-06-20'
reconciled: false
tags:
- Video
- WebRTC
- Live Streaming
- Real-Time Communications
- CPaaS
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of Vonage Video API spend. Vonage bills usage on a
  per-stream-minute (participant-minute) model for real-time video, with
  separate per-minute meters for archiving (recording), broadcast creation,
  HLS viewer minutes, the Experience Composer render service, Audio Connector,
  SIP interconnect, and live captions. Resolution (SD/HD/FHD) drives the per
  minute rate for archives and broadcasts. An automatic monthly volume discount
  applies to participant minutes above a threshold.
notes: >-
  Per-minute rates differ by resolution, region, and contract and are subject
  to change; verify against the Vonage Video API pricing page during
  reconciliation. Some advanced-service meters are not fully published.
sources:
- https://www.vonage.com/communications-apis/video/pricing/
- https://developer.vonage.com/en/video/overview
- https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: Vonage
serviceCategory: Communications and Media
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Usage-Based
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
  - Usage
  - Purchase
  - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Vonage Video API
  ServiceCategory: Communications and Media
  ProviderName: Vonage
  PublisherName: Vonage
  InvoiceIssuerName: Vonage
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Usage
  PricingCategory: Usage-Based
meters:
- name: participant_minutes
  description: Real-time video participant-minutes (per publisher/subscriber per minute), billed per minute.
  unit: minutes
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - application
  - session
- name: archive_minutes
  description: Recorded archive minutes, billed per minute by output mode and resolution (SD/HD/FHD).
  unit: minutes
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - application
  - resolution
  - outputMode
- name: broadcast_minutes
  description: Live streaming broadcast minutes created, billed per minute by resolution (SD/HD/FHD).
  unit: minutes
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - application
  - resolution
- name: hls_viewer_minutes
  description: HLS content minutes viewed per viewer, billed per minute by resolution.
  unit: minutes
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - application
  - resolution
- name: render_minutes
  description: Experience Composer render service minutes, billed per minute.
  unit: minutes
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - application
- name: audio_connector_minutes
  description: Audio Connector (WebSocket audio) minutes, billed per minute.
  unit: minutes
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - application
- name: sip_minutes
  description: SIP interconnect minutes plus PSTN termination, billed per minute.
  unit: minutes
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - application
- name: captions_minutes
  description: Live caption minutes, billed per minute.
  unit: minutes
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - application
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Pull Vonage usage and the Video API Reports API; inspect per-minute burn by session, resolution, and service.
- name: Allocation
  description: Tag applications and sessions per workload/team; map participant-minutes to internal cost centers.
- name: Optimization
  description: Record at the lowest acceptable resolution, prefer individual over composed archives where viable, cap broadcast maxDuration, and limit publishers per session to stay in the lower participant-minute tier.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign owners per application/key; review monthly per-minute spend against budget and the volume-discount threshold.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com